Pebble feeding apparatus



Feb. 16, 1954 L. J. WEBER PEBBLE FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 14, 1948 EH I INVENTOR.

L J. WEBER A TTORNEYS Patented Feb. 16, 1954 PEBBLE FEEDING APIARATUS Louis" J. Weber, Bartlesville, Okla, assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Application October 14, 1948, Serial No. 54AM 'This invention relates to a process and apparatus for controlling the rate-of flow of pebbles through a pebble heater; In one of its more specific aspects it relates to a mechanism for variably-contro1lingthe rate' of flow of pebbles through a pebble heater.

A relatively new type of apparatus for supplyingheat for processessuch as the manufacture of carbon monoxide-hydrogen synthesis cracking of'hydrocarbons, and super-heating of steam, isthe'pebble heater: This particular apparatus is constructed in such a manner that temperatures. as high as seen F. may be obtained. Generally, such apparatusis: constructed primarily'ofrefractory brickscontained within an outer metaljshell; The'constructionissuchthat a contiguousmass of pebbles may be passed downwardly countercurrent 'to the flow of hot gases and thereby have imparted'to'them the high temperature of the gases. In cracking organic materials atxelevated temperatures, pebbles used to transmit the heat imparted to them from the hot gasesmust necessarily be of highly refractory character and ruggedness, because of the great stress imposed on them by rapid heating and cooling. In conducting endothermic reactions at elevatedtemperatures, it is necessary to operate with pebbles havingv in addition to. the above characteristics,.a relatively high specific heat in order tointroducesufficient heat with a minimum flow of pebbles.

The term pebbles? as. used .hereinrefers. to refractory elementsrwhich. are employed herein asa; fluent particulate: mass. These pebbles. are

preferably. substantially spherical and relatively uniform in size, butmay be rod shaped or irregular in shape or size. Spheres of about %;inch to linch, in. diameter are suitableand those. of 4.

inch to. inch are preferred. Care must be taken to select pebbles of proper composition for a given process. In. cracking organic materials at elevatedtemperatures, pebbles of highlyrefractory character and ruggedness mustbe utilized. In.

named may'beimpregnated with other materials 8 Claims. (G1. 23-288) iii) all cases 51;; which are catalytic, but this treatment usually rendersthem less suitable at extremely high tem peratures such as 2500 F. and higher. balls such as nic1el,.Monel, inconel, iron, copper, etc, have utility in specific processes. Various adsorbent materials such as silica gel, active alumina-s, activated carbon; etc., have wide utility in gas treatment adsorption.

Pebbles which have been heated in a pebble heater described above are passed therefrom to a suitable reaction zone where they may contact, for example, gases or vapors to be thermally cracked or where they may act as catalyst and heat trarisf er means for many other reactions. In

Another object is toprovide an apparatus for:

controlling the flowrate of a contiguous mass of pebbles in a gas-tightpressure-resistant system.

Another object is to provide an apparatus ior controlling the flow of pebbles through a pebble heating, apparatus.

Still another' object is to provide an apparatus for controlling the. flow rate of a contiguous mass of pebbles through a gas-tight pressure resistant system comprising a pebble heating apparatus of pebbles through the above mentioned apparat'us.

Essentially my apparatus comprises a rotating drum containing grooves-of specific size in relation to the size-oi the pebbles to-be fed, a gate abovesaiddrum to roughly control-the flow" of Metal of such reactions, it is very desirable, if

pebbles over the drum, and a variable speed power means for rotating the drum at a desired speed. The above mentioned gate roughly regulates the flow of pebbles over the rotating drum by the distance at which its lower end is maintained from the surface of the drum. This distance may be adjusted manually by means of a thumb screw as shown in the accompanying drawings or by other equivalent means. The speed of the rotating drum hereinafter described more fully in conjunction with the drawings is adjusted by the power means used, such as a motor or turbine. Suitable means for actuating said power means are also hereinafter described. Fine adjustment of the speed of the power means is easily made automatic and it is this adjustment which is activated by the change in eiliuent specific gravity, pebble temperature, and the like.

The diameter of the rotating drum and the number of grooves therein will vary with the volume of pebbles to be handled. It is thought to be well within the skill of the art to determine these.

A further understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the attached drawings in conjunction with the following discussion. Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of a preferred modification of my invention. Figure 2 is a cut away front view of my apparatus, partly in crosssection. The rotating drum, adjustable gate, and gate adjustment, have been retained in this figure, not in cross-section, to make the construction of the mechanism more clear. Figure 3 is a flow diagram showing how my pebble feeder is utilized in conjunction with a pebble heater and a cooperating reaction zone, and Figures. is a front view of a second embodiment of drum ll showing an alternate way of making grooves Refer now to Figure 1. Number 10 indicates a gas-tight pressure-resisting pebble feeder housing of preferably cylindrical design. The upper portion ll of this housing is attached to the lower portion i2 thereof by means of flanges I 3. Number it indicates a top closure member for said housing. Pebbles are introduced to said housing via conduit is attached tosaid housing at an angle of preferably 30 to 60 degrees from the horizontal, however, under some conditions it may be more desirable to place it in a vertical position so that it extends through the top 14 of said housing. Number I! is a drum feeding device which may be rotated on horizontal shaft IS in the direction of the arrow, said shaft, extending through gas-tight fittings in the sides of said housing. Number 29 indicates grooves in drum i? which aid in feeding the pebbles. Number 19 is a vertical plate positioned at right angles to the axis of drum l1 and extending over the outer edge thereof to direct the flow of pebbles over drum ll. Suitable clearance between plate l9 and drum I1 is one-half pebble diameter or less. Number 20 indicates a horizontal flange, the inner edge of which extends up to but does not touch drum I1, thus preventing pebbles from flowing downward between the housing and the rotating drum in the opposite direction to the rotation thereof. The ends of flange 21 extend to vertical plate 19 and plate I not shown thus forming a pebble receptacle zone from which pebbles may be removed only by passing over drum ll. It is desirable that the plane of flange 26 intersect horizontal drum l1 above its center line and preferably in the upper one-third of the drum diameter. Number 2! is an adjustable gate to aid in controlling the flow of pebbles over: drum 11. Number 22 is a shaft to which gate 2! is rigidly attached which is rotated through an are by lever arm 23 thus varying the distance between the lower edge of gate 2! and drum l1. Thumb screw 24 is supplied for adjusting the position of gate 2!. It is preferable to have shaft 22 placed slightly to the right of a vertical plane through the axis of drum H and also to have it located above the top of the pebble inlet in housing ill. The length of gate 2! should be such that when completely depressed, it will barely touch the rotating drum, however, in normal operation the distance between these two is maintained at about two pebble diameters or'more. Pebbles fed over drum I! pass into the lower portion of the feeder housing [2 and through outlet 25.

'Refer now to Figure 2. Apparatus elements in this drawing which are the same as those in Figure l are numbered similarly. Number 26 is a gas-tight bearing for one end of shaft I8. Number 21 indicates a gas-tight seal and a bearing within same for supporting the other end of said shaft. Number 28 is a V pulley which is utilized in supplying power to shaft l8 which rotates drum il. Qther suitable drive means such as a chain or gear-train will work satisfactorily. Motive power may be a variable speed motor or a turbine or other means which will give the desired speed or rotation to drum 11. Number indicates longitudinal grooves on drum I! which aid in feeding the pebbles from inlet l6 as shown in Figure 1 into outlet 25 of the same drawing. These grooves are preferably onequarter to one pebble diameter in depth. The width of the grooves at the top should be at least one pebble diameter, and as the depth of the grooves approaches one pebble diameter, the width should approach about one and three quarter pebble diameters. function as pockets whereby the quantity of the pebbles handled would be a function of the pockq et size, but act as a means for keying a few pebbles which in turn become keyed in with more pebbles, thus moving a considerably larger number of pebbles than could be retained in the grooves alone. It is preferable thatgrooves 29 do not extend to the outer edges of drum H, but only to the inner edges of plates 15 and I9 thus eliminating the possibility of pebbles or frag ments thereof being caught between the drum and the plates.

The grooves in the drum as just described may. either run parallel to the axis of drum I I or be in the form of a V, preferably with the apex pointing in. the direction of rotation of the drum.

Refer now to Figure 3. Pebbles from elevator 30 are passed downwardly through conduit 3! to pebble heater 32. Combustible materials and air are introduced via line 33 to pebble heater 32 where they are burned to heat the pebbles.

therein. Exhaust gases are removed from the heater via flue 34. Conduit 35 is for transfer of heated pebbles from the pebble heater to reaction zone 36 where the pebbles supply the needed 3 heat for reacting or merely heating fluid gases which are utilized to prevent intermixing of the gases from different zones. For example, steam These grooves do not Conduit 39 sealiid ii; preventsregasesnfrom; pebbles. heaters? fromipassingintmreactor:35' and dilutingzgandi contaminating; the gases; therei-m; Likewise;

steam: seal; 43 prevents gasesafronr reactorfrom; passingtinto 1theapebblesfeedera i on;

into: the. elevator; Number 44:45? i a recordings-1: controlling" gravitometerwhicln, inrvcasesai of; cracking andtthealike:iwhereiixthe specific gravid tyzof: the :efiiuentzxdifiers fromrthat iofiithez influent-i gases,- measuressand recordstthe specificrgravitys ofgthe-ieiiiuentsandiwhentitachangcsifromt de sired? value; actuates'sa controlronr: the: powers meansv for than pebble feeder;increasing? or doecreasing the speed thereof and concomitantly" changingqxthe flQWa rate; rofimthe ipebbles through to; the; reactor;

maintain; a. predetermined; specific systenmindicatedas 45; Means otherthansthe: gravitoineter shown ins-Figure i 3 imayxbe :usedi-ior: controlling or "regulating the; power:meansafm the feederssuch astemperature diiterential; tame perature within theareactong temperature omit-he:

flue: gases from it the pebble heater; temperature of the pebbles, andothel like; It is-ialso z-ieasible; to. use: combinations; or'the; above; as. controlr meanstfor the feeder It is: preferable inza'lli cases; to: haven system which; is; substantially gasrtighti and: pressure-resistant because often;

are operated in at slightly; elevatedzfprossurei the heatytransfemzone, and to prevent loss of reactants. Also if the system was not gas-tight air might leak in and unbalance the-=control oi the temperaturer-inrther pebble beaten-J My intention provides anu apparatus which.

controls the, flow of pebbles through a. pebble heater and a cooperating reactionzone smoothly'- and evenly. The speedbffsameand thusithe flow of pebbles therethroughi is. readily adjust ableifrom the. outside as shown .inthe drawings; andimaintenance of my apparatusis quite'easyi because ofwthe simple COl'lStlllGjliQIlr.

Although this invention has been described in terms of its preferred modifications, it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure and of the claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus to be used in conjunction with a pebble heating apparatus for controlling the flow of pebbles therethrough, which comprises a gas-tight pressure-resisting housing, pebble inlet means for introducing a contiguous mass of pebbles into said housing, a rotatable multigrooved drum horizontally positioned within said housing and in the line of flow of pebbles introduced thereto, means for variable speed rotation of said drum and thereby causing controlled flow of pebbles from said inlet over said drum and into the bottom of said housing, sideplates for preventing the how of pebbles over the upper outside edges of said drum, grooves in said drum terminating at a point within the inner edges of said side-plates, said grooves being of a depth in the range of A; to 1 pebble diameter and with a width in the range of l to 1% pebble diameters, an externally adjustable gate within said housing above said pebble inlet the: pebble heater: and thew-cooperating;heat transierrzoner T1181, feeder andralsor-the pebblerrelevator 'Sh'OlZldIil also; bem-gasatighttorprevent contamination,:throughzr these portions of the systairiotc'the:reactantsand ifsaidaa drum :andiparall'elr tomcat-id?" drurrrsamt between said side-plates, a shaft rigldlyrattache toesaidagate; andisuppontedl at BfliOhlLBXldtbY said fomrotating :saidi shaft 2 from l, a position whereby i sal a:

gate? extends :from said' shaft: in: the direction? of i:

rotation of said drum, restrictive;.means withinii said housing for preventing the-*flow' 'ofi pebbl'ess:

throug'h sai-d housing -countercurrent:to vtherro tation of said drum, saidrestrictive means be ing so: placed that its plane intersectstsaid' drum ab'ove a' horizontal plane through the centers-off rotation of said drum; and-means for removing pebbles from the bottom" of said housing:

2*. An apparatus according toclaim lwherehr the planeof said restrictive means intersectssaid drum and a' horizontal plane passingthrough" the upper third of avertical diameter of said i drum. 3? An-apparatus'according to claimlwh'ereimthe center line of "saidpebble inlet f'drms an angle-inthe range of 30150 60 degrees with the horizontal.

4; An apparatus according to claim: 1 wherein the grooves in said drum are in the shape of a V the apex of which points in the direction:

of rotation of' said drum:

5'; An apparatus to housed in l conjunction withfl a pebble heating*apparatus -for controlling theficw ofpebbles therethrough, which comprises:

a gas-tight pressure-resisting housing; pebbleinlet means'for introducing a; contiguous mass-of pebblesinto said housing said pebble inlt'meansz forming an angle in l the range "of '30 "to fio' witliii the horizontal, a rotatable -multi- -grooved drum;

horizontally positioned within said housingandi in the line of flow of T pebblesrintroduced theretoy.

shaft means extending through said drum for rotating: same extending throughsaid housing;

= bearingmeansfor said shaftand gas ti'ght means therearound," means for variable speed rotati'on or'said drum and=-thereby= causing controlled-flow of pebbles from saidinlet over-said druin into the-bottom of said housing, side platespositioned-i one half a pebble diameter or less above the outer edge of said drum for preventing the flow of pebbles over the outer edges of said drum, grooves in said drum terminating at a point within the inner edges of said side-plates of a depth in the range of to 1 pebble diameter and a width in the range of 1 to 1% pebble diameters, an externally adjustable gate within said housing above said pebble inlet and said drum and parallel to said drum and between said sideplates, a shaft rigidly attached to said gate and supported at each end by said side-plates, said shaft being horizontally positioned to one side of a, vertical plane passing through the center of rotation of said drum and in the direction of rotation of said drum, means for rotating said shaft from a position whereby said gate hangs in a vertical position touching said drum to a horizontal position whereby said gate extends from said shaft in the direction of rotation of said drum, restrictive means within said housing for preventing the flow of pebbles through said housing countercurrent to the rotation of said drum, said restrictive means being so placed that its plane intersects said drum above a horizontal plane through the center of rotation of said drum,

gate-hangs in c. a vertical: 1 position touching; said drum: tor a" horizontal position whercby =said:-

and means for removing pebbles from the bottom of said housing.

6. An apparatus to be used in conjunction with a pebble heater apparatus for controlling the flow of pebbles'therethrough, which comprises a gas-tight pressure-resisting housing, means for introducing a contiguous mass of pebbles into said housing, a rotatable multi-grooved drum horizontally positioned within said housing and in the line of flow of pebbles introduced thereto, means for variable speed rotation of said drum, thereby causing controlledfiow of pebbles from said inlet over said drum and into the bottom of said housing, side plates for preventing the flow of pebbles over the upper outside edges of said drum, grooves in said drum terminating at a pointwithin the inner edges of said side plates, an externally adjustable gate within said housing positioned above and'parallel to said drum and between said side plates for further controlling the flow of pebbles, said adjustable gate being rigidly attached to a shaft supported at each end of said side plates above the top ofrsaid pebble inlet, said shaft being horizontallypositioned to one side of a vertical plane passing through the center of rotation of said drum and in thedirection of rotation of said drum, means for rotating said shaft from a position whereby said gate hangs vertically touching said drum to a horizontal; portion whereby said gate extends from said shaft-in the direction of rotation of said drum, means within said housing for preventing the flow of pebbles through said housing countercurrent to the rotation of said drum, and means for removing pebbles from the bottom of said housing. y

j 7. A pebble heating apparatus comprising a reactor, a pebble heater in gas tight connection therewith for introducing heated pebbles into said reactor, an apparatus connecting the reactor with the pebble heater for controlling the flow of pebbles through said heating apparatus which comprises a gas-tight pressure-resisting housing, means for introducing a contiguous mass of pebbles into said housing from a reactor, a rooutside edges of said drum, an adjustable gate =5 within said housing positioned above and parallel:

8. An apparatus to be used in conjunction .with

a pebble heating apparatus for controlling the flow of pebbles therethrough, which comprises a gas-tight pressure-resisting housing, means for introducing a contiguous 'mass of pebbles into' said housing, a rotatable multi-g'rooved drum horizontally positioned within said housing and in the line of flow of pebbles introduced thereto,

means ior varying the speed of rotation of said drum automatically in response to changes in reaction conditions in a reactor, and thereby causingecontrolled rate of flow of pebbles'from said inlet over said drum and into the bottom of said housing, side-plates for preventing the flow of pebbles over the upper outside edges of said drum, an adjustable gate within said housing positioned above and parallel to said drum and between said side-plates for further controlling the flow of pebbles, means within said housing for preventing the flow of pebbles through said housing countercurrent to the rotation of said drum, and means for removing pebbles from the bottom of said housing.

' LOUIS J WEBER.

References Cited in theme of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name a I Date 429,857 Loftus et a1. June 10, 1890 a 533,252 Thomas Jan. 29, 1895 783,186 Ericsson Feb. 21, 1905 1,482,812 Roberts Feb. 5, 1924 2,317,274 Johnson Apr. 20, 1943 2,317,838 West et a1. Apr. 27, 1943: 2,326,005

Bradley Aug. 3, 1943 

1. AN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONJUCTION WITH A PEBBLE HEATING APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF PEBBLES THERETHROUGH, WHICH COMPRISES A GAS-TIGHT PRESSURE-RESISTING HOUSING, PEBBLE INLET MEANS FOR INTRODUCING A CONTIGUOUS MASS OF PEBBLES INTO SAID HOUSING, A ROTATABLE MULTIGROOVED DRUM HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND IN THE LINE OF FLOW OF PEBBLES INTRODUCED THERETO, MEANS FOR VARIABLE SPEED ROTATION OF SAID DRUM AND THEREBY CAUSING CONTROLLED FLOW OF PEBBLES FROM SAID INLET OVER SAID DRUM AND INTO THE BOTTOM OF SAID HOUSING, SIDEPLATES FOR PREVENTING THE FLOW OF PEBBLES OVER THE UPPER OUTSIDE EDGES OF SAID DRUM, GROOVES IN SAID DRUM TERMINATING AT A POINT WITHIN THE INER EDGES OF SAID SIDE-PLATES, SAID GROOVES BEING OF A DEPTH IN THE RANGE OF 1/4 TO 1 PEBBLE DIAMETER AND WITH A WIDTH IN THE RANGE OF 1 TO 13/4 PEBBLE DIAMETERS, AN EXTERNALLY ADJUSTABLE GATE WITHIN SAID HOUSING ABOVE SAID PEBBLE INLET AND SAID DRUM AND PARALLEL TO SAID DRUM AND BETWEEN SAID SIDE-PLATES, A SHAFT RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO SAID GATE AND SUPPORTED AT EACH END BY SAID SIDE-PLATES, SAID SHAFT BEING HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED TO ONE SIDE OF A VERTICAL PLANE PASSING THROUGH THE CENTER OF ROTATION OF SAID DRUM AND IN THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF SAID DRUM, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SHAFT FROM A POSITION WHEREBY SAID GATE HANGS IN A VERTICAL POSITION TOUCHING SAID DRUM TO A HORIZONTAL POSITION WHEREBY SAID GATE EXTENDS FROM SAID SHAFT IN THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF SAID DRUM, RESTRICTIVE MEANS WITHIN SAID HOUSING FOR PREVENTING THE FLOW OF PEBBLES THROUGH SAID HOUSING COUNTERCURRENT TO THE ROTATION OF SAID DRUM, SAID RESTRICTIVE MEANS BEING SO PLACED THAT ITS PLANE INTERSECTS SAID DRUM ABOVE A HORIZONTAL PLANE THROUGH THE CENTER OF ROTATION OF SAID DRUM, AND MEANS FOR REMOVING PEBBLES FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID HOUSING. 